Tag Archives: Healing

It’s been awhile since I posted last and I’m happy to say, I haven’t been gone forever, just busy. Today, I’d like to invite you to join us. We’ll be doing our first 8 week Bible study/workshop on the “5 Basics for Growth” Book. As I’ve been preparing for this workshop setting, I realised that each chapter touches on a subject in a very simple way that could be studied in far more depth. We are going to have so much fun, and don’t worry there’s not a ton of homework, just a ton of learning. Here is a video commercial that I hope you’ll all share on your social media pages.

Have you noticed that some people never change for the better? They just stay in the same old ruts they were in, in their twenties, and by the time they are forty or fifty there isn’t that shift of maturity and growth. They just manage to be more opinionated about the same things. Sometimes these people come in and out of Bible Studies and meetings but you see them struggle with the same issues over and over. Do you know why that is?

People can hold the truth of God’s Word, but it will never hold them unless they walk in it.

The biggest little commandment in the Word of God is do. “Do” causes change, growth, the abundant life even! But if we just listen but never put into practice the manifestations, or the principles of practice, we never get results.

It’s most obvious when the chips are down in a person’s life. Like in the Apostle Paul’s for instance. Here was a man who had a celebrated and high-ranking career as a Pharisee. He studied under one of the “Greats” of his time. If he asked for a request from the government, he was taken seriously. Very seriously. He thought he was doing God a favor by killing and imprisoning Christians. He was on the inside of everything political and religious in Jerusalem. He probably even attended the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He was zealous over his opinions.

All that changed one day…

1 “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought [him] into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.” Acts 9:1-9

Saul or Paul, had an encounter that threw every belief he held dear into the fire. What was he going to do? Now, he could have refused to change. He could have mouthed platitudes to God, or could’ve gone to the temple in that state of blindness and searched out help from one of his Pharisee buddies. Right? He could’ve went back to doing the traditional cleansing of his roots. He could’ve asked to be taken back to Jerusalem. But instead Saul/Paul, decided to DO what Jesus Christ asked, to the letter. He waited. It’s a good thing too, because another man named Ananias had a choice to “Do” God’s will as well.

“10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I [am here], Lord. 11 And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for [one] called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting [his] hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened.” vs. 10-19

We get results when we do.

Even if we are afraid, even if we doubt what we are hearing, we get the results when we do the Word of God and the Word is the Will of God.

What is God asking you to do? Has He been clear about a change in your life, but you refused to walk in His guidance? Why? What’s holding you back? Or more importantly, what do you have to lose? You’ve done things your way for your entire life, what could hurt to do things a little different for once and get amazing results?

I’d start here. Ask God; “If you were me God, what would you do today?”

Our criticisms are ours alone to carry. They do nothing but prevent strong relationships, strong self-esteem and rob us and others of a greater sense of accomplishment. We alone live in isolation from them.

I have felt the brunt of other people’s criticism, at times, and realized that I don’t need to carry someone else’s opinion of me around with me. That burden is their hardship. I can leave their opinions right where I found them, with none the worse for wear. You see, I get to decide what information I keep. I get to stop hurtful criticisms before I take them personally. And I alone allow the good things into my heart like the Word of God.

It reminded me of this fabulous verse.

“Keep (guard) thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Our heart is our inner most thoughts of our mind. This should be a tightly controlled secure zone. No thoughts get in or out with a complete screening by the guard (you) and the Keeper, (God).

We’ve been told a lie.

From our teenage years up we start putting ourselves down. We start comparing and getting lots of outside information about our inner thought life. We decide early to take it into our hearts and believe it. But we aren’t taught how to filter and guard that information, or judge whether it is good for us to hear. Until one day we become our own worst enemy! Now we can’t trust even our own thoughts and mind because it will attack.

Do you know what cancer is? It’s when our own physical cells turn against us. Our bodies naturally want to heal. But cancer and AIDS and lots of other diseases, make our bodies fight that good natural order. It eats us from the inside out. Suddenly, we can’t trust our own cells to know what’s good for them. We have to inundate them with something radical and change their attitudes.

“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (about yourself)

Lie not one to another (or to yourself), seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;”

Colossians 3:8-9

Other people did this stuff to us, they trained us, so now we do it to ourselves. Yet there is no profit in it. We have to decide to take in the new radical change and trust that God knows what is good for us to think, hear, speak and believe. His word is pure. There are no toxins!

As you read this section think of how you treat yourself…

“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Forbearing one another (yourself!), and forgiving one another (yourself!), if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (for yourself!)

And above all these things put on charity (agape), which is the bond of perfectness (maturity).

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (for yourself!)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Colossians 3:12-17

You were created for success in all things. You were created to do good works by your Father. He loves and wants you to see the highest and best potential in your life. Sometimes that means forgetting the criticisms and clinging to the truth about yourself. When changing your attitude and renewing your mind about yourself, …

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” vs 23

It takes hard work.

You have to stop yourself mid-thought and change the direction. You have to develop new habit patterns of thinking God’s Word about yourself.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 2 Corinthians 10:5

It is called pride when you exalt other opinions over God’s. That includes your opinions about yourself. Isn’t pride what got the devil thrown out of heaven?

You have to decide to leave other people’s criticism and condemnation on the road where you found it. God thinks you’re worth that and HE knows everything. He especially knows what’s best for us.

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” 1 John 1:5-6

We want to do the truth!

God bless you today!

EXERCISES FOR PRACTICAL LIVING

This is a new section. I’m going to add in a little exercise that you can do to practice this principle.

When you think of answers, write them down. Write down the first thing that pops into your head. If you see anything written that is unedifying, a criticism, or negative, that thought was not from God. Soon you’ll be able to suss out the thoughts He gives and your thoughts. So go back again and again.

Repeat exercise everyday for 5 days, then ever other day for the next 10.

After that, ask God for a prescription for further doses of this medicine. He may say, take a dose once a week for the next year, He may say more or less.

Keep in mind this is your walk with Him. It will rise or fall to the degree of seriousness, effort and believing you put into it.

I heard once this statement, “The beginning of knowledge is after you think you know it all”. LET God in. Let Him correct what the World has taught you about yourself. Trust me you are worth it!

What a joy it is to belong to the Church of God!

When we belong to the Church, we belong to the greatest and most powerful body in the world; there is nothing like the Church anywhere. The Church has such great power that even the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. That is why the devil cannot harm the people of the Church when they know the name of Jesus Christ and use that name, believing in it. Can you see why our prayers must be answered when we believe that Christ is in us? We can receive anything from God that He has promised in the Word if we only know and believe it. Everything that has been revealed in the Word we can thank God for, and, if we believe, it will come to pass.

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Colossians 3:17

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” Ephesians 5:20

Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks always.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

What a name!

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11

You have been washed and sanctified, and you have been justified in His name; but you must receive it before you can manifest it. WOW! Isn’t that awesome! We have power in His Name. We have the power of attorney that when we use the name of Jesus Christ, powerful, positive things must happen. No other body of people has this kind of witness!

“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” James 5:14,15

We all want to belong to something bigger than we are. What about belonging to the Family of God because of His son Jesus Christ? How much bigger can you get?

But, there’s one problem.

Less than 2% of all Christians ever truly depend on and rise to the greatness of just manifesting the power of their own birthright. Less than 2%! As a result, we have sick among us. There is strife and discord among the Church of God and nobody seems to know how to lead anymore.

We have the power to move the very gates of hell! But do we use it for it’s purpose? Do we love one another with it? Do we minister and pray for each other when we see a family member get hit?

“And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” 1 John 3:23

The Church, in which you belong, has the power of attorney, the right to use the name of Jesus Christ. Now let’s believe together to bring positive results into our lives through this powerful name. All you have to do is use it. It wasn’t earned, God gave it by grace. Nothing you DO will take it away. You have it! I guarantee that today, living in this world you will find some reason to manifest it. All you have to do is realize you’re own right and power as a born-again member of the Church of God.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

You must claim that life yourself. You have the right to activate the powerful name of Jesus Christ and live the more than abundant life!

It was April 12th, 1993, at 3:55 pm., He was a bitter, sarcastic old man wearing Birkenstock and a condescending attitude like an old hat. I still remember the lecture he gave me that day, criticizing my lack of altruism and my over abundance of self-absorption. He was supposed to be my coach. He was supposed to know what was best for me and but instead had a list of the reasons I was so wrong in my optimism. I was shocked. Ugh. Just thinking about how he tried to intoxicate me with negativity makes my head swim.

This was not the first time that happened, nor would it be the last. It would happen again and again and again. Every time there is a hit like that, I’d go into introspection mode. As I’m sure many of you do. The last time I had a blow like this was a few weeks ago, the culprit, was me. I told MYSELF that I wasn’t okay, just being me. How did that happen? I suppose it came from years of outside influence. But now I see it. Now I see how my own accusations have changed me. Maybe even stopped me from reaching for a goal or trying something new.

What does God think about me?

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:2,3-4

Look at all the wonderful things God put inside me? God gave me a way to be right. Look at these verse. I am a partaker of the divine nature. So when I criticize myself, I am partly criticizing that nature. That’s GOD’S Nature. There is never anything to criticize about Him! That means I need to start seeing that I have more potential, more love, more of something special inside me then I realized. Why do I have to put myself down? Because I don’t have respect and love for what God is doing inside me. It’s like the fifty things someone says you did right but the one place you need self-improvement eats at you like a canker sore.

I went to my son’s graduation last night. Being five years old and graduating kindergarten is a big deal! But I sat saddened by the comments of one particularly religious looking Grandma in the crowd. Her toxic remarks kept coming and coming. “He’s so tired! Look at him yawn.” “His mother should’ve given him a nap today.” “That teacher needs to learn how to control those kids.” “He picks his nose too much.” And then after an especially adorable comment from her grandson, she criticized sarcastically, “Oh, my what a genius.” She was poking fun at him. This thread of acidic comments went out into the universe and I prayed that my son never heard them. It was bad enough that I heard them.

It made me feel sorry for the bitterness down in her heart. She couldn’t even say two nice things about the boy. Then I realized, I was raised that way too. No wonder I fight with cutting myself down and staying positive. I had no chance when I was young. All that optimism was smothered.

I decided today, those things would change. I would watch what I think, and watch what I say with more care than I ever have.

“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain” James 1:26

It’s time to take my words more serious. It’s time to change history going forward. I will not waste my breath on idle criticisms and belittling thoughts about myself. I will control my tongue.

Big dreams seem like running a syndicated broadcast are made up of tiny daily commitments. Big dreams like painting a mural that gets positive national media attention, requires daily commitments. And big dreams like owning the highest producing brokerage in the state takes big-little daily commitments. Every day, we have to have our eyes on our dreams. They can’t be a foggy. They must be a clear picture. It must be in focus and in must stay relevant.

Relevant?

What do you mean by relevant? Relevant is the dream that is flexible and do-able. It has immediate pay-offs as well as long-term pay-offs. It is big enough to move you. It feels like, if you don’t get up and do something everyday, then you aren’t going to get there. It feels like such a pull that your day isn’t quite complete without doing it. You feel funny if you haven’t done something for your dream.

The best thing about knowing God is, He can direct you to the dreams that are available, do-able, positive and most beneficial in your life. Why waste your time and life on dreams that will harm you in the end, or take away your morality with compromises? Who would want that? Yet, many people strive towards joy-sucking dreams and goals. God would never like that! He wants you blessed and having fun while you’re doing it!

Who told you that?

The one challenge I see many women face is; they don’t believe they are worthy to receive or achieve. Who told you that? And did you realize they are lying?

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” Colossians 1:12-13

“Hath” is past tense. God already delivered us from darkness and put us in the kingdom of his Son. Why not embrace our new reality? Why let the devil convince us of a lie? We ARE worthy because God made it so. We have every bit of power, wisdom and strength and it’s already available.

In a world full of question marks, we have the exclamation point!

Dreams and goals let us live that exclamation point. What if your big goal, that scares you, is praying in front of other people for the first time? That is an amazing goal!

But I’m going to warn you the faster you get to that goal and overcome it, the further ahead you need to look. Make your goals happen fast, make deadlines for yourself so you get up and do something about them in the immediate world. You can only give in the present. So there’s no reason to condemn your past, and no reason to blow off your future. GIVE to this moment. And don’t assume you know what you’re giving will produce. Just give. Give liberally, without judgement to the second, minute and hour you’re in. Do that consistently and nothing will stop you!

Every winner, from world cup soccer player, to championship sports team, or to a winning brand competitor knows that for things to happen, people must be committed. It doesn’t have to be large numbers of people, but a knowledgeable committed few.

Commitment is the dedication and perseverance of a worthwhile goal or dream. You have to chase it. You have to get involved. In the army, soldiers are trained for special forces and have skills for a specific line of work. They train for years and go to extra schooling.

God needs your help too. He needs a committed group for advanced training. These people would commit to one year of learning and mentorship.

What is Supporting Godly Champions? Or S.G.C?

This is a special group of people who will sign up below for one-on-one weekly mentoring sessions with Terri Porta for 1 year.

There will be weekly assignments with training in every aspect of a believers walk, from studying the Word, to learning the power and believing it takes to be a champion. There will be Quarterly Reviews of progress for accountability. Prayer teams and an Supporting Godly Champions Application process.

What you will see at the end of 1 year?

By the end of the year you will confidently be able believe God for your need to be met. You will have a better understanding of The Believer’s Walk. You will be able to operate 6 of the 9 manifestations if not all 9 of the manifestations with ease. You will know that you know that you are hearing God’s voice when He talks to you. You will be able to discern when the adversary is disrupting your life and you will know how to stop him in his tracks. You will see measurable differences in your surroundings, such as improved relationships with your family, friends and work.

How can I make these huge claims?

Those who commit receive the greatest prize. I’ve seen and experienced dramatic changes in shorter periods of time. I feel I’m under-stating what God can and will do in the life of the people who sign up for this intensive course. Timing is very important though. Not just anyone or everyone is ready for this kind of program. You have to show the commitment level needed. It starts with filing out the Supporting Godly Champions Application.

Why am I offering the S.G.C. Program?

I am ready to help God see His goals and dreams come to pass. He wants every believer to come to full maturity in Christ. Full maturity is a place where they aren’t tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. They have a sound mind and know how to use all the tools they are given. Think of a physical human body. If a person never grew from the age 15 months forward and never matured, it would be cute at first. But after awhile it would become horrifying. A body must grow and mature. What about the inner man, a born-again babe? How do they grow? By being built up in Christ. By unifying in the faith in the knowledge of the Son of God. By accepting the full measure given to them through their gift of Holy Spirit. It’s a big deal. Don’t believe me? Check out these verses.

“For the perfecting (maturing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (fully matured person) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Ephesians 4:12-15

If you’re ready for this commitment sign up today.

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Why I Feel the Timing is Right for S.G.C.(required)

To fill out the application, please print out and email or mail back to us.

Terri at Terri Porta dot com.

(I am trying to keep down my spam. The a fore email address is not a link. Please type it as you would a normal email address. Thanks!)